"I'm sorry" said clerk. 'We have no more blue'
but 'the next best thing' didn't compute!
I turned away, he sure didn't have a clue
I'd worked for what I wanted; not a subsitute!

In his zeal to save a sale
cuz he knew I had money in hand
he dickered and moved like a flail
all he had to offer was no better than sand

I'll hold on to my money for a little while
for one day I'd again wear a smile
I would not trade my hard earned dollars
for something not worth a holler

But that chance for another never came
throughout my life I looked for the best
something other was just not the same
I demanded what I knew would stand the test

I lived my life not always having the best
settling many times for simply the next best thing
talking myself down by saying ''twill stand the test,'
'It's less money' and "easier to maintain'

But one thing I would not scrimp on was heaven!
I lived life constantly weeding out dubious leaven
for in eternity, there's nothing in between
When it comes to heaven, hell is The Next Best Thing . . .